Feeder for thrashing machines and the like



July 22V 924.

D. M. GRAHAM FEEj-nn FR'THRAJSHYING MACHINES AND THE LIKE original Filed may .5, 1916 7 Sheets-Sheet l July z2 1924.

D. M. GRAHAM FEEDER FOR THRSHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE original Filed May 5, 191e 7 sheds-sheet 2- %mv QN @QM NN Q\m% w m Naw @9% e l l i ud N QN N NQ 1m e n i n n .MSN N. o w i w l @www @bmw l m Qv ma a. 0% Q s A@ m o y @NN .,Nx u A. KQNMEN mk f m L N@ RNN N .U .E @N l m www@ Q NWQ $0 N July 22. 1924. 1,501,993

D. M. GRAHAM v FEEDER Foa THRASHING MACHINES AND THE MKE original Filed may 5,' 1916 7 sheets-sheet s NNN NNN m .QNN Q aw @l| A www S I w l N QN Nmv/ N QN WWW NQ NN NNnw .u NW %m. o W N QQN\\ z O d. ww @www O m1l\1 .l|Hilxl HHN@ 1 o QQ %%N o wmv MM www SN d mud o W m 1 W W @WJ ma July 22 1924.

D. M. GRAHAM FEEDER FOR THRASHINGMACHINES AND'THE LIKE Original Filed May 5. 1916 '7 `Sheets-Sheet 4 :ggf

Juy 22, 1924. v

D. M. GRAHAM FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES AND yTHE LIKE July 22 1924.

l D. M. GRAHAM FEEDER FOR THRASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 original Filed May 5, 1916 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 www@ Patented July Z2, 1924.

y marras stares earner eiseres.

pAvIID in. santini/1 y r JUANrTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AssIGNoR. or onnnarr To Neus rERGUsoN AND ,annanw n. wENTLaNn, or BonnULAc. NORTH nnxo'ra.

FEEDER FOB, THRASHING\MAC-IINES AND L'-IE LJAIKE.

Application led May 5,1916. Serial No. 95,694. Renewed December 15, 1923.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it `known that l, DAVID MfGn-AHAM, a

citizen of .the United States, residing at Juanita, mathe county of Foster, and State 5 of NorthDalota, have invented vcertain new and useful Improvements in F eed'ersA for Thrashing-Machines and the like, 'of which the following is a specification, reference being [had therein lto the accompanying drawing. Y

This invention lrelates .to an improved mechanism for `separating' jgrain from Vthe straws initially carrying thegiain. Among the objects aimed at, in devising' the mechanism herein presented, are lthe delivering to the thrashing lcylinder ,of the mingled mass of' grain and str-aw more uniformly and evenly than has *been possible with mechanisms heretofore used; the economiaing vof power, and apply-ing it with steadiness; the preliminary preparation of the straws .for such constant anduniform feed, whether they are initially in bound bundles with the straws more or less approximatelyparallel, or whether 1n masses through which the straws are miscellaneously distributed and intertangled. Y

The Vmatters of'detail` incident to the mechanism which lis herein presented for illustration, whether details in mechanical construction, or in relationship ofparts, and the various moif'cmen'ts or operations of the parts, rwill be fully understood from the illustrations low.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is va side elevation of a thresher and separator, together with the rear part of the 'straw-cutting and feeding 'mechanism.

Figure EZ part of the straw-cutting and Afeeding mechanism' and of the engine; the two figures, l y'and together', constituting aside elevation of the entire apparatus.

i Figure 2 is a side y'elevation of the engine and the 'front part of the straw cutter andV feeder ytaken from the side lopposite to that shown in Figure 2l Figure iis a side elevation of part 'of the cutter vandv feeder and of the thresher and "separator taken from the side' opposite to that shown 4in "Figure l; these and 'the' description given be-Y is aside elevation of the front;

the rear and feeder, of parts of the engine andof theV thresher.`

Figure 7 is a longitudinal,vertical section of the parts shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front end view of the straw-v cutting and feeding apparatus.

Figure 9 isa view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a part of the engine an d of the devices for connecting it to the cutter and feeder. f

Figure 10 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of one of the straw cutters.

Figure ll is an `edge view of a cutter.

Figure l2 shows a modified form `of cutter; A

Figure 13 is an edge view of the cutter in Fig. 1.2.

Figure 14 shows a modified construction of 'the -cutt-ing apparatus.

. Figures 15 and 16 show details.

I will specify, somewhat in detail, the mechanical parts which are comprised in the apparatus shown, Vi'irorder to convey a full understanding of one form -oflmechanism` embodying my improvpements.y

'In the ydrawings'there are shown three.Y

main elements in the apparatus, the intermediate element, indicated by Abe1ng.the

mechanism to which the stra-wand grain arel a suitable number of cross girts. Thelforf, ward vend ofthis frame is supported directly-l on the steering truck wheels la of the thresher and separator. The rear end is supported upon the steering truck wheels lb Herein the words front or forward will have reference to the direction toward the delivery end of the thresher; and the words rear or rearward will have reference to the direction toward the front end of the engine in the illustrated arrangement of said parts. The side of the apparatus shown in Figures l and 2 will be referred to as the left hand side; that shown in Figures 3 and 4 will be referred to as the right hand side.

From the bottom frame, comprising the sills and cross girts referred to, there are at the front end of the element A uprights or post structures, each having the part 2, rigidly secured to the bottom frame, and a forward part or extension 2fl arranged to provide openings at 2b. These are connected at the tops by an upper cross girt 3.

At the rear end of the bottom frame are shorter uprights or posts 2, one at the right and one at the left. Each upright 2 is connected toa post Qcrby a longitudinal bar or elevated sill 5. The two rear. posts 2C, 2C are connected by cross bars 7b and 69D.

Of course, it will be understood that, as yconcerns the framework just referred to, it can be modified or can have more or fewer sill and girt parts as required.

The frame parts specified support at the right side the longitudinally extended wall slats 7. The bottom Vof the chamber or space within the framework consists of an endless apron, to be described.

On the left hand side there is a passageway or opening from the exterior into this space or chamber'. hrough this passageway the grain straw is introduced in large masses such as entire stacks or sub-stacks.

' which extend `The mechanism shown is adapted to have stacks introduced which yare eight to ten feet long, from live to seven feet high, and from live to six feet width.

The stacksvare preliminarily placed upon a supporting and delivering mechanism or stack guide having bars 8 hinged to the frame, preferably by means of arms 8a, a short distance outward from the frame. These bars 8 carry an anti-friction floor, shown as composed of a series of rollers 9; and the bars are firmly braced together by one or more cross girts, as at 9a. rlhe arms 8a support part of the roller floor section. Between the roller Vopenings or gaps are left in the flooring t0 permit the escape of stones or foreign objects which may adhere to the bottom part of the straw mass.

The straw mass is advanced into the space in the framework by ropes 10d and a drag bar 10b. The latter has fingers or prongs l1 which are thrust at an inclination downward and inward from the rear side of the mass, in order to seat firmly in position the drag bar 10b, and also insure that the mass, as an entirety, shall be advanced. 14 is a handle secured to the drag bar 10b whereby an operative can manipulate it and thrust the prongs into the straw at the proper points. W'hen the ropes l()d and drag bar l()b are not in operation, they are supported on hooks or brackets 10C.

The ropes 10d are connected to the ends, respectively, of the drag bar l()b and extend to winding drums l()a on a horizontal longitudinal shaft 10 mounted in the framework along the left hand side and near the top. The power devices for operating the shaft will be described below, it being here noticed that, as the drums are rotated, the cables or ropes and the drag bar draw the mass, as an entirety, over the platform 9 and finally position it upon the endless apron at the bottom of the chamber within the frame.

The bottom apron is composed of slats furnishing a floor 9", the slats being secured together either by links or belts and mounted on rollers or sprocket wheels at 9b. The belts or chains on the upper leg of the conveyer rest upon anti-friction rollers 9,while the lower leg of the conveyer rests upon guides or supports 9d. The upper leg of this carrier apron moves forward. The sta-ck or mass of grain is carried by it toward the straw-cutting mechanism. This comprises an endless carrier in the form of an apron of full width or of several parallel belts or chains 25. These are. mounted on drums, rollers or sprockets 24, oneat the upper end, and the other at the lower end of the system, the upper being carried by shaft 24a and the lower one by shaft 24h mounted in the uprights 2, 2a. The endless elements are provided at intervals with knives 26 alternating with short teeth 27. The rear leg of the cutter apron or belts moves downward toward the carrier 9'. The details of these devices will be referred to more fully below.

The grain that is cut and forced throughl the throatway between the lower drum and the end of the carrier 9" is received in a chamber or space D. Some of the straws are cut into short lengths; others remain whole, while others are more or less doubled or bent. Three currents of air are forced backward through the chamber D by the fan system 54 (Figs. 7 and 16). The currents are produced by three fans 58, 58a and 58".V 58 is the center fan transversely of the machine, and is supported on the shaft 58C. The fans 58a, 58h are at the sides of the machine and have ducts 59 for conveying the air forced by them into the chamber D. The fan 58 has an opening at 56 'for the entrance of air and an opening at 57 through which the air escapes directlyrearward.l 55` indicates the casing for these fans. The

straw and grain are forced outward from the chamber D through the throat 62a. Be-

low the chamber is the Hoor at 65, in which there is formed at 67 a pocket or depression, for catching rheavy articles foreign to the straw and grain which may accidentally find accessto the machine. The straw and grain then are propelled up the wind trunk 29 to the hood 30, whence it drops to the thrashing cylinder 33. 1

The air delivered from the fans 58, 58EL is supplemented by powerful currents from the fan 64 on the shaft 50 mounted in the casing 60. The 'fan casing has a downwardly Aextending lip or `flange 61 which guides the air which is forced through the opening 62 into thethroat at the bottom ofthe trunk 29. rlhis casing also has a lip or flange 63a, adjacent to the opening 63, through which the airis drawn into the fan.

The legs lof tho apron are thrown out ofparallelism and held suitably under tension by means of guide plates 25a, which are preferably bowed in such way as to take up slack which overcomes the tendency of the cutters of the teeth to commence to turn at the pulleys or rollers with too great suddenness. The shaft 24a of the upper drum is provided with a balance or fly wheel 22. The cutters 26arel secured to bars 181, which are fastened to the apron or belts 2:1. Each cutter is formed with a plate 118 and a sharp edge 118a. (Figs. 10 and 11). It is seated ina groove or rebate 117LL in the bar 131. A bolt 120 passes through it, the bolt. having its head 122 seated in a countersinl in the back of the bar and being fastened in place by the nut 121. l

'ln the thro'atway at the front end of the bottom carrier 9e there is a concave-like device comprising a series of fingers or blades 26b and a base 262x which carries them. The lingers 2m are spaced and situated in such way that the fingers 26 and the teeth 27 on the cutter and breaker can pass between them. And'the parts 26b come so close to the circles of rotation of `the drums or wheels 24 that the throatway is properly reduced. i

The trunk or duct 29 iscOnnected to the hood V30 thelatter fitting over the hopper or feedway immediately above the thrashing cylinder 88. the latter carried by shaft 84. rlhe "trunky or upper part 29 of thetrunk and the hood 8O are hinged or movably Vconnected to the lower part 66. This'upperpart and the hood be drawn forward into the' positionshown in dotted lines` ir. Figure 7 and can be there fastened by the stay rod 81 havingl at its rear end a hook that engages with an eye 4'orvthe cross bar 3.

Power is transmitted to the-operativeparts of the mechanism from the engine 80, having the traction wheels 1c and the front steering wheels 1d, as follows:

118d indicates the crank shaft for `the engine.` It .is provided with a tight band wheel 117 and a loose wheel 119. 116 is the main beltl which, when on the tight wheel 117, transmits 28 on the cylinder shaft 34. has its outer end supported in a brace'ior bracket bar 88 secured to the side of Athe thresher. 28 is a belt fitted to a pulley 28" 0n the cylinder shaft, this belt also engaging with a pulley 22a on the upper` shaft 24a above specified. The shaft 24b at the lower end of the cutter system has an outerpulley 51 which is connected by a belt 52 with a pulley 58 on the shaft of the-.fan,=58,

58a. Vlt has a pulley 48 which is connected a belt 49 to the pulley 50a on the shaft 50 ofA the large fan. Shaft 24b has also a third pulley 47 which, by belt 46, is connected to a pulley on the shaft 44a. 44 is Va bevel wheel on this shaft meshing with a bevel wheel 48 on shaft 43a. 42 is a belt pulley 0n the latter shaft and is connected by belt 41 to a pulley 40 on the rope windiug shaft 10. Cylinder shaft 34 has'a pulley- 84 which is connected by a belt 21 to a pulley 2O on the shaft 19. This shaft also carries a gear 19 meshing with 'a vwormA 17il on an inclined shaft 16. The latter ca r- Y ries asecond worm 17 which engages with the worm gear 18 on the shaft of the vroller or sprocket wheels at 9.1?. 18 is a cover or guard plate over the gearing at 18. vThe upper shaft 24a of the straw cutter and breaker is vertically adjustable, there being adjusting devices at 23 for fixing the'position of the bearing. Y l

At 15 there is a clutch or disengaging` device provided with a lever 15a for `disengaging the shaft 16 from the gear 18.

Suitable belt tighteners are appli-ed where required. 35 (Figure 4) is a tightenener wheel for the belt 28, carried by the arm 36 pivoted to the link 87 which, in turn, is secured by a pivot 39 to the brace bar '38. Y The-belt 41 which drives the rope winding shaft has a tightener pulley 68 mountedv on the end of a lever 69 pivoted vrat'69al in cross bar 69b and provided with a guiding and bracing bar 76. The upper end the lever is connectedV by a lever 70 to a crank' power to the pulleys" This shaft arm 71, which extends upward freni the.,

t-ened to the bracket and the holder 73 on the lever.

The main drive belt 116 is held in position by means of guides of a suitable number. Two of these are shown on the right side of the feeder structure, one at the forward end and one near the rear. Each coniprises a Vvertical bar 114 and top and bottom bars 114, together with long vertical rollers 115. These belt guides are supported on stub: posts 6 secured to the exterior of the right hand side of the feeder frame.

The engine is peculiarly related to the feeder and thresher. 1t is provided with a belt supporting system such that the belt can be thrown out of action at any time without dropping it to the ground in the usual manner. Tt passes through a guide, which is carried by the plate 81 on the right side of the engine, this guide having a. supporting base 112 extending laterally outward, upon which is supported a sliding device having the uprights 109 and a bottom slide bar 1091 with a brace 113. Two vertical rollers for guiding a belt are held in this sliding frame. When it is desired to stop thefeeder and thresher, the belt holder and guide. are pushed outward to .cause the belt 116 to engage with the loose idler 119 on the engine shaft. l/Vhen the feeder and thresher are to be again started, the guide 109, 110, is again drawn inward and the belt restored to the tight pulley 117. The guide is moved laterally by a lever 106 pivoted to a support 105 on the engine and is held in place by guide 107. The lever is connected to the belt guide by an arm 108 projecting inward from the latter.

It is further necessary to have the engine related to the feeder and thresher differently when the apparatus is being transported from place to place, in comparison with the wayin which it is related when they are all standing bodily stationary and the engine is used as a motor. When the several elements are to stand bodily stationary, and power is' to be transmitted from the engine, 1 make provision for lirst shortening` the distance between the engine and the thresher to permit the putting of the belt in place, and then for increasing -this distance in order to tighten the belt.

The coupler bar of the engine is indicated by 84, which is pivoted at 84a. adapted to assist in coupling the engine and also to adjustably space and brace it. This bar 83 is, at its rear end, provided with a plate or flange 90, which is pivotally connected at a to the rear truck of the feeder. The draft is distributed from this truck to one or more point-s along the bottom 'trame of the feeder by a hound bar 78, which eX- tends preferably to a point near the rear end of the feeder and is secured to a cross 83 is a bar.

Leonesa bar 77. At the rear end the bar 83 has an extension 86 provided with a slot 87 through which passes the main draw bolt Vhen traveling from place to place the bars 83 and 84 are connected by a coupling pin 102 adapted to pass vertically through an aperture 102a in bar 84 and through an aperture at 88 in bar 83. This coupling pin 102 is supported in a bracket 101. Then the machines are standing in operation, the pin 102 is drawn out from the bars 83 and 84 and the latter are slidably connected and are held in proper relation to each other by guide loops 103, 104. The engine is spaced and held against approaching the feeder by a dog 91 engaging with teeth 89 in the upper part of the bar'83. After the belt is in place on the wheels the engine can be advanced a short distance relatively to the bar 83, and the dog 91, traveling along the ratchet teeth 89, prevents any retraction. The operato-r manipulates these parts readily by a lever 96 pivoted to bracket bar 96 secured to the side plate 82 of the engine. The lever is firmly held in position by a brace guide 99 and is connected through a link and a crank arm 94, to the crank arm 94 on a rock shaft 98 mounted in bearings 98b on the engine platform 98C, which arm, in turn, is pivotally connected to an arm 92 on the dog 91. The crank arm 94 is also connected by a chain or cable section 102b to the upper end of the pin 102. The crank arm 94 has a pin 94a passing through a slot 93 in the link 93. The connection between the arm 94 and the link 93, on the one hand, and between the arm and the coupling pin 102, on the other hand, are such that the first part of the movement of the lever 94 insures that the in shall be in its uppermost position. Then the -dog 91 is to be held out of action, the lever 96 is thrown rearward far enough to have its detent 97a engage with one of the rear not-ches 98a in the segment 97.

1n Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown a modified form of cutter and attachment. 123 is the cutter plate. It is secured by a socketed or grooved plate 125 to a cross bar 124, the latter having a groove 125a on its outer face in which the plate 125 is fitted. 126 are stud bolts extending back from the cutter plate through the bar 124. The bar is countersunk or socketed on its inner face, as at 127, the sockets receiving the projecting bolts 126 and the nuts which fasten them in place. The cutter`123, proper, is riveted in place between the flanges of the plate 125, as shown at 128.

The manner of using the apparatus above described will'be readily understood. Heretofore, when wheat, or the like, has been cut with long straws, the virtual practice has been to form tightly bound bundles inimediately after ythe, cutting. These are stacked until ready for thrashing. Then grain has been thus bundled for the thrashingy machine, it has been supplied to the cylinder either by hand-feeding or automatic band cutters and feeders. Thev former involves the taking of the bundles by an operative at points near the inletvto the cylinder, cutting the bundles and spreading the straws by hand with an effort tohave them fed heads irst and in parallelism to the planes oit rotation of the cylinder. Of late years many mechanisms have been devised for receiving the bundles at points more remote fromV the cylinder and taking them' by carriersy or conveyers toward it, there beingfdevices for cutting the bands and spreading the loosened straws in a manner more or less-similar to that tollowed in the hand operation. f -But there is nowdemand for the stacking of wheat, andl the like, without binding the straws into bundles and arranging shocks of the latter preliminary to the time of thrashing. And. in some. sections of the territory the practiceV is-being adoptedlo't arranging the lwheat strawin masses which arelarge relatively tothe ordinary bundles and relatively to the ordinary shoclrsof eight to twelve of such bundles, though small when comparedl with the large stacks that are sometimes formed; these masses having the straws morev or less indiscriminately commingled therethrough. rllhe stacks referred to, and formed in this newly entering practice,y are from eight to tenv feet long, from live to siX feet wide, and from live to eight feet high. These are Aarranged somewhat closely together'in series or in clusters for convenience of access at the time ofthrashing.

.The r present apparatus is designed not only for taking wheat which hasbeen bundled and preparing it for introduction te the thrashing cylinder, butfalso for taking these stack massesfin dimensions approx-i mating those recited. y

Instead of passing streams of bundles, the bands of which are successivelycut `and whose straws are then spread out. inl thin strata during their passage to the cylinder', materially different initial step 'is here taken. The bundles are placed in the feeder. A, one on .top'of the other., kto a depth of six feet, or thereabouts.l the forward end of the receiving chamber being kept lilled, while those at ,the rear end of the stack are being moved toward the cutring and breaking devices.

In casethe grain has been stacked witl out bundling. that is. in massesformed of miscellaneously arranged relatively loose straws, they are successively brought by :unable an tee-lea treat:

'- Assume that a staclrfof ing the grain having its straws in either of the conditions specified, the apparatus is first brought to. an advantageous position. The engine is so guided as'y to bring the thresher to point where it will be cor.- rectly placed, and the feeder to such position` that the grain can Vbe readily delivered to it. Then the engine is disconnected as a tractor to do which the pin 10Q, is drawn out from the bars 83, 84. And the main drive belt 116 is, by the lever 106 and the adjustable belt'guide, moved over from the idle wheel 119 to the tight wheel 117. vIt the belt is notV suiiiciently tight, theoperator, by suitable lgearing on the engine, K Vance a short distance, having thrown the level 96 so as to permit the :dog 91 to ride on and over the ratchet teeth`89. When the belt issuillciently tight, the advancev of the engine is stoppedand thedog 91will pre'- vent-its retraction relatively :to the feeder and thresher.V

The three main elements of the apparatus being now in proper relative position, the procedure is as follows:

p substantially the dimensions recited has been placed on the intalretloor 9, 9a. Theoperator grasps the draw bar 10b or its handle 14 andl pulls it over-the top" ofthe'stack (the/rope pulleys nti this time being'itree) and places it at lthe proper horizontal line,l across the outer vertical face of the stack, and at the same time throws'the'prongs 11 into the mass ina downwardly inclined direction so as to apply the draft properly throughout the bottom partthereof. Then, by therpulling de,- vice 13, he :torcesthe tightener pulley 68 against the belt ll1, whereupon the winding shaft is caused to rotate `and wind up the cables 10d, this resulting in dragging the massof straws into the. feeder A. The carrier 9? immediately causesV it to move to-g ward'the :cutting` apparatus. ,The cutters 26 move rapidly, and, as they descend, ene gage with such straws, as come to them and lie transversely totheir paths. The impulse given to the strawsandpieces takesthern tri ward the concave.. VThe ngers j2Gb ,actto y retard the transversely arranged straws long enough to insure their being cut or dis: entangled from the mass? llach series olif cutters is followed by the blunt tearing. or breaking fingersiQ'?, which act'vto rapidly drag downward and torward the straws or pieces with which they engage. The pur.- pose is to separate each strawor piece as far. as possible from the mass and` deliverit in this separated. relationship to the chambenl). Here the straws orpieces are iinpinged on bv thethree currents ot which are directed ybackward froni` the 'fans 58, The straws. .strawpiecesA and. loose causes it tol independently adllO are fennel by! the lt@ .Y pieces of material floor and through the throatway at 62a, where the powerful and voluminous currents of air from the fan 64 continuetheir propulsion thro-ugh the trunk 29 and the hood and to the cylinder.

Should relatively small stones, or small foreign to the grain, be initially introduced with the straws, their specific gravity is availed of for separating them; for, as they pass along the bottom 65 of thechamber D, they settle in the pocket at 67 and are prevented from passing` to the cylinder, from which pocket they can be readily separated.

As is well known, much loss is caused and frequently great dangerr to operatives results from the passage of foreign articles to a thrashingcylinder, these being tools, pieces of metal, large stones, or the like, which are enclosed in, and concealed by, the strawsY that reach the cylinder.

In case such an article be initially introduced in the present mechanism, it may cause limited damage to the cutting apparatus. But tiere is practically no dangerI to those around the machine, and the devices for propelling the material toward the cylinder will insure their separation before it is reached.

Another serious difficulty in operating ordinary thrashing and separating mechanism is due to the fact that it has been impossible to insure a uniform and even feed continuously for any material length of time. The cuttil of the bundles, either by hand or by automatic devices, has resulted in uneven ness in the feed, this vbeing so serious at frequent intervals that the rapidly rotating cylinder is slowed down below the proper working speed. An appreciable time is necessary to bring it back to speed again. And as the thrashingcylinder Yis an excellent source of power for other parts that must be timed with the cylinder, it is generally connected to the various devices which cut the bands and feed the straws; and in the ordinary mechanism, as a consequence of this, the entire apparatus is subject to fluctuations in speeds; and the inerti a of the various moving parts has to be overcome short intervals, both in respectto speeding up and slowing down. Y

ln my apparatus the pnuernatic feed of the straw and grain to the cylinder overcomes these difficulties, and l deliver practically uniformly a stream of predetermined quantity, per unit of time, as long as the machine is in operation.

l do not desire to cut'all of the straws into short length. The cutters can, to advantage, be placed. so that either those along each bar, orv those in the entire series, will travel in transverse planes from two to three inches apart5 Y And this insures that a large Patentes@ 0% the atreva Will be out The yelements (engine, feeder thresherl,

results in this respect can be varied as desired by employing proper cutter bars suitable for the occasion.

Those straws, however, which approach the cutting and breaking device, longitudinally, or approximately so,will pass through without being broken up or cut.

The advantage resulting from having` a percentage of the long' straws pass through .is that, after the material has passed the thrashingcylinder and reaches the separating` tables, or the like, the mass, considered as an entirety, delivered thereto will have the shorter straws and grainl berries coinmingled with the longer ones and it will be open and porous so that it is subjected t-o the vibrations of the separating devices, the berries being completely shaken out and separated therefrom.

These will comprise, of course, concave straw-.shaking devices, winnower, stravistacking mechanism, etc., of any suitable make. The builder of the machine will ein` ploy such devices for transmitting power and for giving the' proper speeds to the different operative parts that he sees fit.

' The stacks (indicated by dotted lines at E) are brought in' succession, and one after the other is placed in the manner described inthe chamber of the feeder. The yfeed to the cutters and thresher is continuous, as the chamber in the feeder is two or three feet longer than the stacln so that a succeeding mass can be introduced before the preceding one has all been delivered to the cutter and straw breaker.

After the thrashing operation as any one locality has been completed, it is not necessary, with this apparatus, to remove the main drive belt or any of the others. The guides for the belt which havek been described are permanently in position and are so disposed as to hold the belt p=,operly` even when the apparatus is being transported. There are two of the guides on the side of the feeder so that when the three VITQ on the road and are out fof line, the belt will not be displaced, the guide on the enn gine holding it properly in relation to the ulley 1.19, and the guides on the feed holding it properly in relation to the and thresher.

lt will be understood that the amrlr; is especially adapted for operating on which has been cnt so that Vthe straws are of considerable length, and the stacks of which have stood in the field for a period of curing so that they have settled d bclcome compacted and are relatively solid.

For the rapid and economical handling` of such stacks and the thrashing of the er straws thereof it is of great advantage t move the stacks bodily and successively into Said, Steel@ helder, where the grain ref ystack holder for supporti moved' or in a manner stripped continuously and evenly from a face of the compacted stack, and converted into a rapidly and continuously moving relatively thin sheet of grain, which` is suitably delivered to the thrashing machinery. The stack thus operated upon may be described as of solid eubical form (though usually elongated) and it retainsE such formduring its thrashing, excepting for the continuous and even removal of the grain straws from one of its faces, as above described.

vWhat I claim is:

, l. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having' an opening in a' vertical Wall or the same adapted to have an entire stach of grain, in the form in which such grain is stacked in the held after cut-ting, inserted therein through saidv opening by slidi" on its bottom, and means for removing grain from said staclr When in the stack holder andt feeding the same to said thrashing machinery.

2. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having an opening in al vertical Walt of the same adapted to have an entire stack of' grain in the' formin' which such grain Ais stacked in the field after cutting, inserted therein through said opening, Withoutl lifting the same off itsy bottom, and means for removing grain from said stack when in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery. 3. TheA combination of anl engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having an opening in a vertical Wall of the same adapted to have an entire stack of grain' in the for-1n in which said grain is stacked in the field after cutting', inserted therein through said opening, means for supporting the stack While resting on its bottom as it liss-inserted in the stack holder, and means for removing grainv from said stack When in the stacl holder and feeding the same to said thrashingma'chinery.

45. The combination' of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack4 holder having Walls and having an opening in a vertical Wall of the same adapted to havean entire stack of grain intheform in4 Which such grain is stacked in the: Afield after cutting, inserted therein through said opening, means restingk on the groundv and inclining upward tothe` bottomV of the sa'd opening Yof 'the the stack While it is inserted, means'for removing grain from said stack when in the stackV holder and feeding the saine to said thrashingmanery, mechanism operated byV said en ne for .insertingV th' stack in the stack h. el", and fr actiiatng said thrashing machineryl 5'. The combina/tien et engine, thrashyer# after cutting, inserted therein, means for removing grain from said stack When in the stack holder and feeding' the same Lo said thrashing machinery, and mechanism whereby said engine may insert the Vstach in the stack holder through said opening and actuate said grain removing means and said thrashing machinery.

6. The combination of an engineythraslring machinery, a stack holder having stach containing Walls adapted to haveA an entire stack of grain in the form in: which such grain is stacked in the field after cutting, inserted therein,.mean's for removing grain from said stack when in the stack holderV and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, an inclined staclry guide extending from the ground to the bottom of the stack holder at'said opening, means whereby the engine may move the stack along said guide into the stach holder, and mechanismE for actuating said ,grainv removing means land the thrashing machinery. 'v v -l 7. The combina-tion of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder havingfvsta'c'k containing Walls formed with a lateral open'- ing and a substantiaily horizontal movable bottom near the ground and adapted to have an entire stack of grain in the form in Which such grain is stacked in the li'eld afte'r` cutting, inserted therein through said opening, and means for removing grain from said stachV When in the stack holderand feeding the same to saidthrashing machinery. 8. The combination vof an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having a substantially horizontal bottom andal bottom support for the stack and ada-ptedto Ihave-a formed stack of grain, as it is 4made inthe field after cutting, insertedv therein'by slid'- ing on said bottomsupport, means for removing grain from saidc stack when in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, and means for advancing the stack as a formed entirety against saiud removing and feeding means. c

9. The combination of an engine, thrash'- ing machinery, a stack holder having substantially horizontal bottom' and an inclined plane leading to said bottom and adapted to have a formed stack of graimpas it is made in the field after cutting, inserted therein by sliding on said plane, and'having a grain delivery opening at the lovverpartv of itsend, means for removing grain from said stack when in the stack holder and feeding the same to said delivery opening and thrashing machinery, and meansv for advancing `the stackV as a fori-ned entirety against said' yg. moving and. .feeding means,

10. The combination of an engine,` thrashing machinery, a stack holder having 'Walls and having a stack-receiving opening in one of its upright Walls adapted lto have a; formed stack of grain, as it is made in the field after cutting, inserted therein'through said opening, means for removing grain from said stack When in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, and means for advancing` the stach as a formedentirety against said removing and feeding means.

11. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having a stack-receiving opening in one of its upright Walls, adapted to have a formed stack of gra-in, as it is made in the field after cutting, inserted therein through said opening, a stack guide leading to said opening, means for advancing a stack along said guide, means for removing grain from Vsaid stack When in the stack holder and feeding. the same to saidthrashing machinery, and means for advancing the stack as a formed entirety against said removing and yfeeding means.

12. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having a stack-receiving opening in one of its upright Walls, adapted to have a formed stack of grain, as it is made'in the field after cutting, inserted therein through said opening, a stack guide leading` to said opening, a Winding draft means actuated by the thrashing engine for advancing a stack along said guide, means for removing grain from said stack when in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, `and means for advancing the stack as a formed entirety against said removing and feeding means.

13. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having stack-receiving opening in one of its upright Walls adapted to have a formed stack of grain, as itis madel in the field after cutting, inserted therein through said opening, means for removing grain from along a face of said stack When in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, and means for advancing the face of the stack as a formed entirety against said removing and feeding means.

14. rEhe combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having Walls and having a stack-receiving opening in one of its upright Walls adapted to have a formed stach of grain, as it is made in the field after cutting, inserted therein throughV said opening, an endles belt having means for removing grain from along a face of said stack When in the stack holder and feeding the same to said thrashing machinery, and means rfor advancing the stack as a formed the thrashino' machiner entirety against said removing and feeding means.

15. The combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to have an entire stack of grain in the form in which such grain is stacked in the field after cutting, inserted therein, means for removing grain from said stack when in the stack holder, and pneumatic means for feeding the same to said thrashing machinery.

15. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder having a lateral stack-receiving opening and a grain delivery opening, a.' stach-advancing conveyer at the bottom of the stack holder, an endless grain carrier operating along a face of the stack and towards said grain delivery opening for separating and removing the grain from the stack for delivery through said opening to means for advancing a stack of grain laterally through said stack-receiving opening and intothe stack holder and on to the advancing conveyer, and means for advancing the stack bodily towards said endless carrier.

17. rlhe combination \of thrashing machinery, a stack holder having a lateral stack-receiving opening nearthe ground, an inclined stack guide leading to said opening, draft means for drawing a stack of grain on said guide through said opening and into said stack holder, means for removing the grain from said stack and feeding it to the said thrashing machinery, an engine, and means for connecting the thrashing machinery and stack holder and engine in spaced relation.

18. rlhe combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to hold a stack of grain of substantially solid cubical form, means acting parallel With and along a face of said stack for removing grain therefr m and propelling it in a continuous thin sheet, means for feeding said sheet of grain to said thrashing machinery, and means for propelling said stack to the said grain-removing means. l

19. rThe combination of an engine, thrashing machinery, a stack holder having means for propelling a stack of grain endvvise therein, a driving belt from the engine to the thrashing cylinder shaft, an endless belt having means operating along a face of the stack for removing grain therefrom, means for driving said endless belt rapidly from the thrashing cylinder shaft, means for feeding the removed grain to the thrashing cylinder, and means for driving the said stack-propelling means slowly from the thrashing cylinder shaft.

20. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder having stack enclosing Walls formed With a lateral opening for the entrance of a stack of grain and adapted llO to have an entire formed stack of grain lnserted therein, a movable bottom for the stack holder, a stack guide leading to the 'top of said movable bottom, a substantially vertical and downwardly acting endless belt having means for removing grain along a face of the stack and forming withy said bottom a throat for the eXit of the grain so removed, means for delivering such grain to the thrashing machinery, and means for moving said bottom towards said belt.

21. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder, an endless belt having means operating along a face of the stack for removing grain therefrom, means for feeding the removed grain to said thrashing machinery, and a support for the foperating part of said belt acting to holdit in proper relation to saidl face of the stack.

22. The combination of l'thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to have an entire formed stack of grain inserted therein, a movable bottom for the stack holder, a substantially` vertical and downwardly acting endless belt having means for removing grain along a face of the stack and forming with said bottom a throat for the exit of the grain so removed, a grain passage leading from said throat and having a pocket for heavy foreign substances, means for delivering grain from said passage to the thrashing machinery, and means for moving said bottom towards said belt.

23. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to have an kentire formed stack of grain inserted therein, a movable bottom for the stack holder, a substantially vertical and downwardly aoting endless belt having means for removing` grain along a face of the stack and forming with said bottom a throat for the eXit of the grain so removed, pneumatic means for delivering such grain to the thrashing machinery, and means for moving said bottom towards said belt.

24. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to have an entire formed stack of grain inserted therein, a movable bottom for the stack holder, a substantially vertical and downwardly acting endless belt having means for removing grain along a face of the stack and forming with said bottom a throat for the exit of the grain so removed, means for delivering such grain to the thrashing machinery comprising air forcing devices and air ducts delivering into the sides of the grain passage near said throat, and means for moving said bottom towards said belt.

25. The combination of thrashing machinery, a stack holder adapted to have an entire formed stack of grain inserted therein, a movable bottom for the stack holder, a substantially vertical and downwardly acting endless belt having means for removing grain along a face of the stack and forming with said bottom a throat for the eXit of the grain so removed, a grain passage beyond air into said duct in the direction of they movement of the grain, and means for moving said bottom towards said belt.

26. The combination of thrashing machinery having a closed hood over the grain entrance thereto, a stack holder having an opening for the insertion of a formed stack of grain and a grain delivery opening, means for removing and freeing grain from the inserted stack' to said delivery opening, and pneumatic means for feeding the same to said closed hood.

27. The combination of anV engine, thrashing machinery, an intermediate stack holder, means for feeding the grain of a stack "to said thrashing machinery, a driving belt from said,V engine to the thrashing m'aehinstraw breakers removably attached to said belt, and straw removing means arranged on said belt between said straw breakers.

30. In a stack holder adapted to be used with thrashing machinery and an engine, and having means for feeding' loosened grain straws to such thrashing machinery, and having an open side, the combinationl of a winding drum mounted on said stack holder,

opposite to said open side, ropes attached to said drum, a stack engaging device attached to said ropes and having prongs to enter within the outer side of the stack, and means for actuating said winding drum from the thrashing engine.

3l. In a thresher` feeding mechanism the combination with the thrashing devices, means to elevate straw to said devices from a relatively low horizontal plane near the ground surface, a holder for a relatively large loose straw stack, means for withdrawing a stream of straw from the said stack while the stack as an entirety is in the holder, the holder having a side wall and a rear end Wall which are fixed while in operation and the opposite side wall being open for the admission of a straw stack while moving into the holder along a horizontal plane below the tops of the said walls,

the latter extending from the horizontal plane aforesaid to a horizontal plane near the top of the stack.

32. In a thresher feeding,v mechanism the combination with the thrashing devices, means to elevate straw to said devices from a relatively ground surface, a holder 'for a relatively large loose straw stack, means for withdrawing a stream of straw from the said stack while the stack as an entirety is in the holder, the holder having` upright walls which are fixed while the machine is in operation and one of which is open for the admission of a straw stack while moving into the holder on a horizontal plane below the tops of the said walls, the latter extending from the horizontal plane aforesaid to a horizontal elevated plane.

83. In a thresher feeding` mechanism the combination with the thrashing devices,

low horizontal plane near the means to elevate straw to said devices from a relatively low horizontal plane near the ground surface, a holder for a relatively large loose straw stack, means for withdrawing` a stream of straw from the said stack while the stack as an entirety is in the holder, the holder having upright stack-conning Walls which are fixed while the machine is in operation and one of which is open for the admission of a straw stack while moving into the holder on a horizontal plane below the tops of the said walls, the latter eX- tending from the horizontal plane aforesaid to a horizontal plane to which the straw is elevated.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. GRAHAM.

Witnesses: l

GEORGE E. EDELIN, N. CURTIS LAMMOND. 

